Abstract: Dates fruit waste
(DFW) is a by-product of dates juice industry that contains high energy. So, it
is suitable for an energy source in dairy goat ration. This study was conducted
to observe the effect of DFW utilization in the ration on energy partition and
productivity of lactating dairy goats. The experimental design was randomized
block design using 9 primiparous lactating dairy goats. There were three types
of ration as treatments used in this study, i.e. R0= 35% forage + 65%
concentrate, R1= 35% forage + 55% concentrate + 10% DFW, and R2= 35% forage +
45% concentrate + 20% DFW. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and polynomial
orthogonal test. The evaluated variables were dry matter intake (DMI), energy
partition including energy intake, digestible and metabolizable energy, fecal
and urine energy, energy in methane gas, and energy in milk, milk production
and quality. The results showed that the linear decreased of DMI, energy
intake, digestible energy, metabolizable energy, and urine energy with the
increased of DFW level in the rations. The use of 10% DFW (R1) showed the
lowest energy loss through feces and methane gas of all treatments about
1089.57 kcal/head/d and 2.36 kcal/head/d, respectively. The use of DFW did not
affect energy retention in milk. The utilization of DFW in ration did not
significantly prevent the decline of milk production and milk quality. It can
be concluded that DFW can be used as an alternative feed for the lactating
dairy goat up to 10% in the ration.